Senior Application Support Engineer → Application Manager

Transferable skills

• Application management

Skills to learn

• Portfolio ownership
• Vendor management
• Team leadership
• Stakeholder management
• Roadmap
• Operations

Step-by-step learning plan

1. 1. Build on your Senior Application Support Engineer experience

   2–4 weeks

   Leverage

   • Application management

   Map transferable skills — Application management — against what an Application Manager needs.

2. 2. Learn the core of the Application Manager role

   6–10 weeks

   Learn

   • Portfolio ownership
   • Vendor management
   • Team leadership
   • Stakeholder management

   Technologies

   ServiceNowJiraConfluence

   Cover the biggest gaps first: Portfolio ownership, Vendor management, Team leadership.

3. 3. Master advanced Application Manager skills

   6–10 weeks

   Learn

   • Roadmap
   • Operations
   • Mentoring

   Technologies

   ExcelPower BITeams

   Handle the advanced topics: Roadmap, Operations, Mentoring.

4. 4. Get productive with the Application Manager toolchain

   4–8 weeks

   Technologies

   ServiceNowJiraConfluenceExcelPower BITeamsSharePointPowerPoint

   Be hands-on with ServiceNow, Jira, Confluence and the rest of the target stack.

5. 5. Practise Application Manager work in real conditions

   4–8 weeks

   Ship a portfolio project or take on Application Manager tasks at work.

6. 6. Get certified and position yourself as a Application Manager

   4–8 weeks

   Technologies

   ITIL 4 SpecialistPMPTOGAF 9 Foundation

   Update your CV and LinkedIn around Application Manager, then apply to target roles.

Alternative routes

• Technical Lead → Application Manager